Georgia qualifies for Rugby World Cup for sixth time

Georgia will participate in the Rugby World Cup competition for the sixth time since 2003, after the national team became the 15th squad to qualify for the 2023 competition that will take place in France, the Georgian Rugby Union announced on Thursday. 

With 35 points in their group, the Lelos have claimed the top spot in the pool and a spot among two of the leading European teams, after World Rugby suspended Russia and Belarus from its ranks on March 1, condemning “Russia’s aggressive invasion of Ukraine and the facilitation of this action by Belarus.”

• Georgia to play World Rugby Champions South Africa, host Scotland in summer tests

Following the decision, the state of the World Cup qualifying zone in Europe has been reconsidered. The Rugby Union said it was still to be decided whether Georgia would qualify among first- or second-placed teams from the Europe pool. 

The rugby body said if the Georgian team gained a point in remaining games against Romania and Spain, they would keep their first place in their group and join Wales, Australia, Fiji and the winners of the international play-offs.

• Lelos name squad to face rugby world champions South Africa

Spain, Portugal and Romania have a chance to qualify for the World Cup from the European Qualifiers, the best squads of which will enter the World Cup competition, with the third-placed finisher moving to the playoffs. 

The website of the 2023 Rugby World Cup said Georgia had achieved a “best-ever third-place pool finish in England 2015 but only won one game at the last tournament in Japan.”